STATE OF MAINE

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION & FORESTRY

MAINE FOREST SERVICE

INSECT & DISEASE LABORATORY 168 STATE HOUSE STATION

AUGUSTA, MAINE 04333

DOUG DENICO, DIRECTOR PHONE: (207) 287-2791 OR 800-367-0223

MAINE FOREST SERVICE

18 ELKINS LANE, HARLOW BUILDING www.maineforestservice.gov

WALTER E. WHITCOMB

COMMISSIONER PAUL R. LEPAGE

GOVERNOR

http://maine.gov/dacf/mfs/forest_health/index.htm

Forest & Shade Tree - Insect & Disease Conditions for Maine

April 9, 2018

This is the first Conditions Report for the 2018 season. The forest health staff have a busy field season planned and work on several projects has already begun, despite being well ahead of budbreak. Due to the recent retirement of entomologist, Charlene Donahue, the forest health staff is temporarily reduced to two entomologists and one pathologist to serve the needs of the state. Due to this, our subscribers may find that this publication may not be distributed as frequently and issues may not be as long in 2018 as in the past. We hope to fill the vacant entomologist position as soon as possible.

Use Local Firewood!

The beginning of a new season of outdoor recreation brings new focus to the dangers posed to our forests by invasive forest pests, often spread by infested firewood. Recreationists and camp owners from out-of-state must be aware of the threats invasive forest pests pose to Maine’s natural resources. Currently, the emerald ash borer (EAB) and Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) are of greatest concern, but there are dozens of other threats to our forest that can move in or on firewood that the public will be less likely to recognize. These range from tiny bullet-shaped beetles and large longhorned beetles, that look nearly identical to our native beetles, to microscopic fungi.

The message, “use local firewood,” is less complicated than enumerating hosts and descriptions of some key insects of concern. However, we will continue to provide information about these few “charismatic megafauna” with the hopes that you can help us find them, but with the caveat that they

are merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to new forest threats. Learn to identify those insects, their signs and symptoms, but keep aware of changes in tree and forest health, and report concerns beyond the most wanted list. Public detections are important in finding these insects in our forest and ornamental trees as quickly as possible.

We also ask the concerned public to help us spread the word about firewood. Maybe you know a neighbor who looks at a trip to camp as a frugal and environmentally sensitive alternative to disposal of suburban tree waste. Consider helping your neighbor recognize the costs associated with that activity. If a neighborly

2 of 6

chat is not enough to convince him or her to burn the wood immediately, or there is too much wood for immediate consumption, you can report your concerns to the MFS Forest Protection Division by phone at 1-800-750-9777 or online at http://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/rpt_concerns.html.

Because there is a quarantine on EAB in most states in the Eastern US, transporting firewood into Maine from out-of-state is often not only a violation of State rules, but also of Federal quarantine. Learn more at emeraldashborer.info and www.maine.gov/firewood.

Insects

Browntail moth (Euproctis chrysorrhoea) – Think browntail moth is a problem of the coast? Think again. Coastal areas are home to the most intense populations of browntail moth, but the known distribution and intensity of populations is growing. We have reports of significant defoliation from towns such as Eddington, Etna, Burnham, Belgrade, and Turner. Look at the map below to see if this insect has been reported in your town. More importantly, inspect your fruit (apple, crabapple, serviceberry, cherry, hawthorn and relatives) and oak trees for the overwintering webs. We’re happy to look at photos to confirm or rule out browntail moth. Submit photos at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/btmreport. If you do find webs within reach, there is a short time left in which populations can be reduced by removing and destroying the webs (soak in soapy water or burn, see the video resource on our website, http://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/forest_health/ invasive_threats/browntail_moth_info.htm). Please report your web sightings, especially outside of heavily infested areas (moderate to high populations on the map). Our maps are certainly incomplete, and you can help us make them better.

3 of 6

Emerald Ash Borer (Agrilus planipennis) – Emerald ash borer (EAB) has still not yet been found in Maine, although new infestations have recently been found in our neighboring states and provinces. In the last few weeks, EAB has been found in Vermont in three counties, and they are still delimiting the infestation and considering their quarantine options. Recent finds in Québec and New Hampshire have led to expansion of their quarantine areas. Much more of Maine’s land border with New Hampshire and Quebec now abuts areas quarantined for EAB.

Even though this destructive insect is practically on our doorstep, it is still too early in most of Maine to be treating specimen ash with pesticides to protect them. Experts recommend holding off treatment until the EAB is within 10–15 miles of the trees in question. In the meantime, resources are better spent on inventorying ash and surveying and monitoring for the pest.

Ash phenology gives us a great opportunity to conduct surveys as hardwood leaves emerge. Because ash trees are among the last to leaf out, they are easily recognized after the leaves of other hardwood have flushed. An ash inventory can be as simple as a windshield survey to determine whether you have a lot of ash to worry about, or just a few. For more in-depth inventories, consider recording location, size, value and likely management approach for each tree. Check out the nhbugs.org site on EAB for some succinct advice on preparing for this pest in areas more than 10 miles from known infestations (http://nhbugs.org/recommendations-homeowners-and-landowners).

4 of 6

If you are a landowner and have ash trees on your land, consider creating a girdled trap tree to monitor for EAB. All trap trees girdled last year were negative for signs of EAB and efforts have begun this year to girdle trees to continue monitoring. If you have an ash tree of any species (not mountain ash) over four inches in diameter at 4.5 feet that you would be willing to sacrifice as a trap tree, please email Colleen Teerling at colleen.teerling@maine.gov with the subject line “Trap Tree” and we will help

you create a trap tree. More information can be found at: http://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/forest_health/invasive_threats/ eab_trap_trees.htm.

This is one of the best times of year to watch for signs of EAB. During the winter until the trees start to leaf out in the spring, woodpeckers often find and feed on overwintering EAB larvae, which are fat and make good eating at this time of year. As the birds feed, they flick off the gray outer bark, and expose the light-blond inner bark, leaving a distinctive signature (although not unique to woodpeckers feeding on EAB). It is primarily the smaller woodpeckers, like the hairy and the downy, that feed on EAB; although even smaller birds like nuthatches do as well. When you are out and about, watch for signs of woodpecker feeding on ash and let us know if you see any. If you can, take a picture of any feeding you see on ash and pass it on to us.

Eastern Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma americanum) – Watch for the developing tents of these hairy caterpillars in cherries and apples in late April and early May in southern Maine (later as you move farther north). In Maine, this native insect is primarily a nuisance and aesthetic pest. It does not significantly impact forest health, but repeated defoliation can affect host growth and vigor, which can be important on ornamental and orchard trees. On valued fruit and ornamental trees, you can look for and destroy egg masses of this caterpillar. Also, monitor for developing tents on these trees and consider removing them when they are small. The caterpillars return to their tents in the evening, so this and early morning are good times to remove tents.

Ground-Nesting Bees – Beginning in very early spring, solitary ground-dwelling bees emerge and become active. When they first emerge, they are usually very active, with much flying around, mating, exploration and nest-building. As people increase their yard-work activities, they begin to notice the bees. All this activity by bees can look frightening. However, solitary bees (one nest for each female, although you may have many nests in one area) are generally non-aggressive and will not sting unless severely harassed. The males often look aggressive while they fly around searching for a mate, but they can’t sting at all. This heightened activity persists for only a week or two, and then the bees are almost unnoticeable. Ground nesting bees are valuable pollinators.

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (Adelges tsugae) – Hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) eggs and/or crawlers (mobile stage of HWA) are now present and will be more-or-less continuously present until late July or early August. These life-stages can be spread on many items other than the host trees (clothing,

Eastern tent caterpillar egg mass. Image: Maine Forest Service

Evidence of woodpecker feeding on ash. Image: Maine Forest Service

5 of 6

equipment, vehicles, pets, etc.). If possible, postpone work in infested hemlock stands until August to reduce spread of HWA. Remember that HWA is a quarantined pest. Live, rooted hemlocks and recently cut branch material pose the highest risks for spreading this pest. Within Maine, all hemlock products may move freely within the quarantined area. Roundwood products such as logs and pulp may be moved freely within Maine, but must be free of foliage. Material with branches, such as chips, moved outside the quarantine area must go to facilities with agreements to receive that material. New Hampshire recently eliminated its quarantine on hemlock. Quarantines in other jurisdictions vary.

Spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana) – Thanks to our cooperators who help augment survey for this pest. Information about needs for the 2018 season are already rolling in—please get those to us by the middle of this month so we can plan for distribution. The full report on 2017 spruce budworm monitoring activities and current populations in Maine is available on the Maine Spruce Budworm Task Force website www.sprucebudwormmaine.org. Look under News & Events. Paper copies are available by request.

Winter moth (Operophtera brumata) – Defoliation by winter moth was up in 2017 in comparison to the previous years. Winter moth caterpillars will be hatching around the same time as red maples begin bloom. It will be some time yet here, especially with the cool April predicted for Maine. If you banded trees against winter moth in the fall, you are well prepared to monitor for egg hatch. Search on and below the bands for tiny orange eggs. These eggs will turn blue just before hatching. Feel free to report observations to our office. Winter moth eggs that are exposed on trees can be killed with horticultural oil, which suffocates the eggs. Oil should be applied in very late winter or very early spring when temperatures are above 45° F. Avoid applying oil when temperatures may dip below freezing for 24–48 hours after application, since cold greatly increases the risk of causing injury to the plant.

There was good news out of Massachusetts last year, where the introduced biocontrol Cyzenis albicans appears to be providing some relief from high winter moth populations. We’ve had both releases and recoveries of the parasitoid in Maine, and are hopeful for the future in regards to this pest.

Diseases and Injuries

Delphinella shoot blight (Delphinella abietis) affects true firs (Abies spp.) and is an occasional pest of firs in Christmas tree plantations and horticultural plantings in Maine. Historically, the disease has been recorded in several locations throughout Maine and has resulted in some losses in plantations. Delphinella shoot blight is characterized by blighted tips, usually affecting early season new growth. At first glance, the damage can resemble that caused by late frost. Newly affected tips turn a reddish-brown color and may twist and turn irregularly as they dry (this symptom can also be mistaken for chemical injury). In time, numerous black fungal spore-producing structures can be seen on the needles on the dry blighted tips. These needles persist for a year or more and are the source of reinfection during prolonged periods of moisture in the following spring/early summer.

Delphinella shoot blight symptoms in Penobscot County, Maine in 2018. Image: Maine Forest Service.

6 of 6

Any management practices that encourage air-flow in the vicinity of trees, thus enhancing needle drying (decreasing the period of needle wetness), may limit disease. Pruning of lower, infected branches reduces the source of reinfection (inoculum) and helps increase drying in the lower crown. Other cultural practices like maintaining proper spacing (for instance in a Christmas tree plantation) and controlling vegetation around trees is recommended where this disease is a problem. Some Christmas tree growers in the Pacific Northwest have used chlorothalonil-based products to

control this disease, however in some cases they have noted chlorotic stippling and discoloration

associated with this chemical management approach. Since needles capable of producing spores

causing reinfection persist on trees for two (possibly more) years, chemical and cultural management

practices should be conducted for as many years as it takes to eliminate the disease from the area.

Oak wilt (Bretziella fagacearum, formerly Ceratocystis fagacearum) has not been detected in Maine

but is a pathogen of significant concern and therefore a focus of early detection efforts.

The oak wilt fungus kills water-conducting tissues, first leading to discoloration and early defoliation of

leaves followed by wilting and killing of branches (flagging). As the disease progresses in the tree,

wilting and branch mortality expands, with trees dying in the same year or the following year

Oak trees have a habit of connecting their roots with

neighboring oak trees (root grafting). This can allow

the oak wilt fungus to spread from tree to tree

rapidly, causing pockets of oak mortality in a stand.

The causal agent of oak wilt has been confirmed in

three locations on Long Island, New York, one

location in eastern and one location in western New

York State. This disease has caused mortality of oaks

in the Midwestern United States for decades and is a

threat to oaks in forest and residential settings. Oak

wilt disease can also spread via firewood, further

highlighting the importance of not bringing firewood

from out of state and instead relying on local sources for firewood needs.

Please report any early defoliation of oak trees to the insect and disease lab in Augusta and keep an

eye out for unusual dieback and unexplained oak mortality in your area.

Office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for holidays. If you plan to visit either office, you may wish to call ahead just to make sure someone will be present to meet with you. (207) 287-2431 (Augusta) and 827-1813 (Old Town)

Conditions Report No. 1, 2018 On-line: http://maine.gov/dacf/mfs/publications/condition_reports.html DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE CONSERVATION & FORESTRY Maine Forest Service - Forest Health and Monitoring Contributors: Aaron Bergdahl, Allison Kanoti, Colleen Teerling

Oak wilt symptoms on prematurely defoliated leaves in Pittsburgh, PA. Image: Maine Forest Service.